“Inside Manipur’s Militant Bust: Arrests, Arms & the Anatomy of a Security Crackdown”
Summary of the News Article
Manipur Police, in a collaborative effort with central security forces, executed a joint operation on Sunday, June 23, 2025, resulting in the arrest of five individuals linked to banned militant organizations. Among those apprehended was a wanted active cadre of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Sanasam Rajesh Meitei (35), caught in Nambol and reportedly involved in extortion activities. The other four suspects are members of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Progressive) – PREPAK (Progressive) – and were detained in Imphal East. Authorities also uncovered a temporary militant camp in the Kalika foothills and seized a significant cache of weapons, including rifles, a light machine gun, ammunition, grenades, and explosives
Introduction: Setting the Stage
Imagine a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek—only the stakes are insurgency, arms caches, and the precarious peace of an entire state. On Sunday, June 23, something big went down in Manipur: five suspected militants were caught in a coordinated strike by Manipur Police, backed by central forces. These aren’t small-time players—they’re tied to groups like PLA and PREPAK (Progressive), affecting everything from education to public safety. Let me walk you through this intense operation, its major players, and what it means for the region’s stability.
1. The Mission: Coordinated Strike
This wasn’t your average police raid. It was a joint operation—a task force involving Manipur Police and central security units, acting in sync. These multi-agency setups are key in insurgent-heavy regions. Why? They pool intel, share jurisdiction, and help mitigate internal leaks. This Sunday, that coordination paid off in a big way .
2. The Main Catch: PLA Cadre Arrested
The mission’s headline was the arrest of Sanasam Rajesh Meitei (35), a PLA operative from Hiyangthang Mayai Leikai. He was nabbed in Nambol and apparently had ties to extortion rackets targeting clinics and schools—a troubling misuse of force and influence Extortion like this not only funds insurgency but also sows fear in communities. Catching him is a major win.
3. PREPAK (Progressive): Four More Captured
But that wasn’t it. Four other suspects linked to PREPAK (Progressive) were also arrested across Imphal East. These are serious players from highly active militant wings. Between PLA and PREPAK (Progressive), you’re seeing different ideological streams of insurgency—territorial, tribal, and ethnic conflicts all intersecting.
4. Camp Discovered in Kalika Foothills
Following the arrests, the force uncovered a makeshift insurgent camp tucked in Kalika’s foothills under Porompat PS. This was no small hideout: multiple rifles, including SLRs and .303, a light machine gun, magazines, grenades, explosives—the works Think of it as uncovering the militant equivalent of a “supply depot,” unloading not just weapons but ideology.
FAQs
1. Who were the arrested militants?
One was PLA cadre Sanasam Rajesh Meitei; the other four were linked to PREPAK (Progressive).
2. What was seized?
The police recovered rifles (SLR, .303), a light machine gun, grenades, magazines, explosives, and ammunition.
3. Where did the operation take place?
Arrests occurred in Imphal West and Imphal East (Nambol, Kalika foothills, etc.).
4. What does this mean for local law enforcement?
It demonstrates enhanced coordination between state and central forces and sends a deterrent message to other militant outfits.
5. What’s next for peace in Manipur?
To build on this, connectivity between intelligence, police, development programs, and community trust will be key.
